Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke attends a hearing March 23, 2016, at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago. Van Dyke is charged with murder in the on-duty shooting of Laquan McDonald, 17.

An attorney for the Chicago police officer charged with murdering Laquan McDonald has proposed that Cook County sheriff's deputies guard the officer as he enters and exits the Leighton Criminal Court Building unless a judge allows him to skip court appearances.

Attorney Daniel Herbert, who represents indicted Officer Jason Van Dyke, offered the suggestion in a court filing made public Wednesday while noting that prosecutors had first raised the possibility.

Herbert asked a judge in March to waive Van Dyke's presence at routine court appearances, citing concerns about his safety because of public protests outside the county's main criminal courthouse over the high-profile case. Van Dyke, who has been suspended without pay, is free on $1.5 million bond while awaiting trial.

Judge Vincent Gaughan, who is presiding over the case, could rule on the issue as soon as Thursday, when Van Dyke is scheduled to return to the Southwest Side courthouse.

Prosecutors have said the judge should not allow Van Dyke to skip court, arguing that to do so would create a perception of preferential treatment and create a "slippery slope" for other defendants in highly publicized cases. But in their court filing last month, prosecutors suggested Gaughan could order sheriff's deputies to protect Van Dyke when protesters are present or allow him earlier access to the courthouse then the general public.

The disturbing dashcam video of Van Dyke shooting the 17-year-old McDonald 16 times as the teen walked away from police with a knife in his hand created a firestorm, leading to calls for major reforms amid a U.S. Justice Department investigation of the Police Department.

This excerpt from video released to the public shows the most complete version of the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. It is edited for length by the Chicago Tribune. Warning: This video contains graphic images.

This excerpt from video released to the public shows the most complete version of the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. It is edited for length by the Chicago Tribune. Warning: This video contains graphic images.

Since he was charged in November in the on-duty killing just hours before the court-ordered release of the video, Van Dyke has had to maneuver through rowdy protests outside the courthouse during several early court appearances.

A version of this article appeared in print on May 05, 2016, in the News section of the Chicago Tribune with the headline "Cop in McDonald slaying seeks guards - Court appearances by officer have led to rowdy protests" —
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